Find Hancock County Death Records

Hancock County death index records are held at the Probate Court in Sparta. The Hancock County Probate Court on Broad Street is the only local office that issues death certificates for the county. This is a rural county in central Georgia, and the Probate Court handles all vital records requests including death, birth, and marriage records. State-level death records for Hancock County go back to 1919. This page walks you through how to search for death records, what fees you will pay, who is eligible for certified copies, and where to find historical Hancock County death records online.

Hancock County Probate Court Office

The Hancock County Probate Court is located at 12630 Broad Street in Sparta, GA 31087. Walk in with a valid photo ID and the deceased person's full name and date of death. Staff can search the records and print a certified copy for you during your visit. This is the fastest way to get a Hancock County death certificate.

Hancock County is a small, rural county in middle Georgia. The Probate Court may keep limited hours, so call before making the drive. Georgia law under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-15 requires death certificates to be filed promptly. The attending physician must complete medical certification within 48 hours. After filing at the Hancock County Probate Court, records are sent to the state within two business days. That puts Hancock County death records in both the local and state systems.

Note: Call the Hancock County Probate Court ahead of your visit since hours may be limited in this small county.

Death Certificate Fees in Hancock County

A Hancock County death certificate costs $25.00 for the first certified copy. Additional copies are $5.00 each when ordered at the same time. These fees are set by O.C.G.A. § 31-10-26 and are the same in every Georgia county. Cash and credit cards work at the counter in Sparta. Money orders and certified checks are needed for mail requests. Personal checks are not accepted at the Hancock County Probate Court.

Get all the copies you need in one visit. The $5.00 rate only applies during the same transaction. A second trip later means paying $25.00 again for each copy.

How to Search Hancock County Death Index

Going to the Probate Court in Sparta is the most direct way to search for Hancock County death records. Staff look up records by name and date. You get a copy that same day.

Online searches work too. The ROVER system is Georgia's official ordering portal for vital records. Make an account, enter the details for the person, and order a certified copy online. ROVER covers deaths in Georgia from 1919 forward. VitalChek is a third-party vendor that processes orders with an added service fee. GO Certificates is another approved option. All three services can pull Hancock County death records from the state database.

For historical death records tied to Hancock County, the Georgia Archives holds older records and offers a digital collection from 1919 to 1927 for free. The FamilySearch Georgia Death Index covers 1933 to 1998 at no charge. Both are helpful for genealogy research in Hancock County.

Who Can Get Hancock County Death Certificates

Georgia limits certified copies to those with a direct and tangible interest in the death record. Spouses, parents, adult children, grandparents, siblings, and legal representatives qualify. Estate executors and funeral directors can get certified copies too. Show proof of your relationship when visiting the Hancock County Probate Court.

Informational copies are available to anyone. These have no legal weight. The Social Security number is removed. Genealogists and researchers use informational copies from the Hancock County death index for family history projects. The Georgia Rules 511-1-3 outline the full eligibility rules for each type of copy.

Hancock County Vital Records by Mail

You can request Hancock County death records by mail. Write to the Hancock County Probate Court at 12630 Broad Street, Sparta, GA 31087. Include a money order or certified check for $25.00. Provide the full name of the deceased, the date of death or approximate year, your relationship, and a copy of your photo ID. County mail requests usually take 2 to 4 weeks.

The state office also accepts mail requests. Send to Georgia Department of Public Health, Vital Records, 1680 Phoenix Blvd Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349. The phone number is (404) 679-4702. State mail takes 8 to 10 weeks. If speed matters, visit the Hancock County Probate Court in Sparta for same-day service.

The Hancock County Probate Court vital records page is shown below.

The Georgia Department of Public Health website lists the Hancock County Probate Court and its vital records services.

This page shows the Hancock County Probate Court address and vital records services in Sparta.

Nearby Counties

These counties share a border with Hancock County. If a death may have been recorded in a neighboring county, check these offices.